Folding box



Jan. 31, 1933. N OTTINGE 1,895,768

. FOLDING BOX Filed June 1, 1932 INVENTOR I Z2 14 i 17 i? y r 1 fifi%ATTORN Y Patented Jan. 3 1, 1933 UNITED STATES NATHAN OTTINGER, OF NEWYORK, N. Y.

FOLDING BOX Application filed June 1, 1932. Serial No. 614,693.

This invention relates to folding boxes, and more particularly to a boxof that type formed from a single blank of cardl'ioard or other suitablematerial, and having a *arrying handle for the box constituting anintegral part of said blank.

It is the primary object and purpose of my present invention to providea folding box of this character in which a relativelv small number offolding operations is required which can be easily and quickly executed.and in which novel means is provided for interlocking overlapping top orclosure sections of the box blank with each other, and retaining thecarrying handle stamped from one of said sections in proper relation tothe box structure.

It is a more particul r object of the invention in one embodimentthereof to provide a box having the top or closure section extendingsubstantially the entire distance between the side and end walls of thebox,'

and an overlapping top section on the rear side wall, said first namedsection having the carrying handle projected therefrom and providing a.slot therein, and said overlapping section having spaced interlockingtongues or extensions insertable through the ends of said slot closelyadjacentthe ends of the carrying handle and cooperating with oppositeedges of the slot to securely retain said'closure sections in connectedrelation.

In another embodiment of the invention, I propose to provide foldableinterlocking tongues whereby, after said tongues are inserted throughthe ends of the slot, a portion of each tongue resiliently bears againstthe underside of one of the closure sections and acts as an inclinedstrut to resist accidental detachment of said interlocking tongues.

ith the above and other objects in view,

the invention consists-in the improved fold ing box, and in the form,construction and relative arrangement of its several parts, as will behereinafter more -fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, and subsequently incorporated in the subjoined claims.

In the drawing wherein I have illustrated several simple and practicalembodiments of the device, and in which similar reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure is a perspective view showing the several parts of the box intheir relative set up positions;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken substantially on the line 22 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary transverse section taken on the line 33 of Fig.1; 50

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section on an enlarged scale taken onthe line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the box blank; and

Figs. 6 and 7 are fragmentaryplan and sectional views respectivelyshowing analternative construction of the interlocking tongues.

Referring in detail to the drawing, and for the present moreparticularly to Fig. 5 thereof, the box blank which may be cut by meansof suitable dies from cardboard of the requisite weight and thickness orother suitable material, includes the bottom section 5, front and rearwalls 6 and 7 respectively and the opposite end walls 8. The latterwalls are provided with the relatively foldable extensions 9 and thenarrow foldable strips 10 at the outer ends of said extensions. At theopposite ends of the side walls 6 and 7, foldable wings 11 and 12respectively are provided.

Along the longitudinal free edge of the frontwall 6, a closure section13 is integrally connected therewith and foldable relative to said sidewall, said section 13 being of substantially equal length and width tothe bottom wall or section 5. The opposite ends of this closure section13 are provided with the relatively foldable wings 14. A complementaryfoldable closure section 15 is also provided along the free edge of therear side wall 7. The closure section 13 has a carrying handle ofsuitable form or shape indicated at 16 cut therefrom, said handle at itsends re maining integrally connected with said closure section. Thus,when this handle is projected to a position in right angular relation tothe section 13. the slot 17 is provided in said closure section.Preferably, the ends 557 tion 13.

of this handle 16 are slightly widened, thus forming the shouldersindicated at 18 in the edges of the slot 17 adjacent each end thereof.

The other closure section 15 is provided 5' with spaced interlockingtongues 19 which are preferably tapered and are connected at their widerends with section 13 by the relatively narrow neck portions 20, thusforming the shoulders 21. The neck portions 20 of these tongues are of awidth substantially equal to the width ofthe widened ends of the slot 17beyond the shoulders 18.

The box blank is of course provided with the usual score lines betweenthe relatively foldable parts thereof, as indicated by the broken linesin Fig. 5. In folding these parts to their set-up positions, the frontand rear side wall sections 6 and 7 are first bent up- Wardly to erectpositions along the longitudinal edges of the bottom wall-6 andthe.

wings 11 and 12 are then folded inwardly to extend at right angles tothe walls 6 and 7 along the end edges of the wall 5. End Walls 8 arethen folded upwardly against these wings and the sections 9 are foldedinwardly over the inner faces of said wings, while the narrow end strips12 extend horizontally upon the surface of the bottom wall of the box,as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing. After projecting the handle16 from the plane of the closure section 13, said closure section isfolded inwardlv and downwardly from the upper edge of the front wall 6,the wings 14 being first bent into right angular relation therewith soas to frictionally bear upon the inner faces of the parts 9. Thetendency of these parts or sections 9 to spring inwardly, which isresisted by the outward pressure of the wings 14, materially aids inretaining the closure section 13 in its horizontal position extendingover the entire top of the box.

The other closure section 15 on the rear wall 7 is now folded inwardlyand downwardly into superimposed relation upon the rear part of thesection 13. The interlocking tongues 19 are bent to a slight angle andinserted through the ends of the slot 17. Owing to the fact that tongues19 at the -'shoulders 21 are of greater width than the -shoulders 21coact with shoulders 18 and effectually prevent disconnection of saidclosure sections by the tongues working outwardly through the slot 17.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that my improvedfolding box construction, when the parts are arranged in erect or set-upposition, possesses great strength and durability, and even when filledto capacity with comparatively heavy material, may be conveniently carricd by means of the handle 16 without danger of separation of theclosure sections 1 and 15 and the opening of the box.

In Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawing, I show an alternative form of theinterlocking tongues, in which each tongue 19 is of uniform width, and.is scored intermediate of its ends to be folded on itself. There is thusprovided an end section 22 on each tongue which, after the foldedtongues are insert-ed through the ends of the slot 17, tends to resume anormal position in alignment with the inner portion of the tongue.Therefore, the free end of each tongue portion 19 exerts a resilientfrictional bearingpressure upwardly against the under side of theclosure section 11-3, said portions 22 being of such length that theyact as obliquely inclined struts, as clearly shown in Fig. 7, toeffectually resist outward movement of said tongues through the end ofthe slot. in this case, if desired, the handle part 16 and the slot 17may be of uniform width throughout the length thereof.

From the foregoing description considered in connection with theaccompanying drawing, the construction, manner of use and-severaladvantages of my improved folding box will be clearly and fullyunderstood. It will be evident that the box blanks can be cut out bysimply constructed parts and with a mini mum waste of material, and thatthe simple folding operations required may be very quickly executed. Theinterlocking tongues and the longitudinal edge of the closure section 15being in close abutting relation to the ends of. the handle 16, providereinforcing means for the handleat its connection with the closuresection 13. Thus, although quite a heavy load may be contained withinthe box,

liability of rupture or separation of the ends of the handle from theclosure section 13 is reduced to a minimum. Of course, it will beapparent that boxes or containers as above described may be produced invarious other sizes and shapes than that which I have selected for thepurpose of illustration, and that the handle part 16 can also be of anydesired ornamental configuration. Therefore, while I have herein shownand described several simple and practical embodiments of my presentimprovements, it nevertheless to be understood that the essentialfeatures thereof may be incorporated in various other alternativestructural forms, and I accordingly reserve the privilege of resortingto all such legitimate changes therein as may be fairly embodied withinthe spirit'and scope of the invention as claimed.

I. claim:

1. A folding box comprising a blank having relatively foldable parts toform a bottom, side and end walls of the box, said blank also includingclosure sections connected with the opposite side walls and foldableinto superimposed relation with each other, one of said closure sectionshaving a carrying handle struck therefrom and providing a slot in saidsection, and the other of said closure sections being provided along itsfree longitudinal edge with spaced tongues insertable through the endsof said slot closely adjacent to the handle ends and cooperating withsaid first named section to retain the closure sections in superimposedrelation.

2. A folding box comprising a blank having relatively foldable parts toform a bottom, side and end-Walls of the box, said blank also includingclosure sections connected with the opposite side walls and foldableinto superimposed relation with each other, one of said closure sectionshaving a carrying handle struck therefrom and providing a slot in saidsection, the opposite edges of said slot adjacent each end thereofhaving shoulders, and the other of said closure sections having spacedinterlocking tongues on its free longitudinal edge each provided withshoulders adjacent its connection with the edge of said section, saidtongues being insertable through the ends of said slot closely adjacentto the ends of the handle and the shoulders thereof adapted to cooperatewith the shoulders on the edges of said slot to limit relative movementbetween the closure sections and retain the same in superimposedrelation.

3. A folding box comprising a blank having relatively foldable parts toform a bottom, side and end walls of the box, said blank also includingclosure sections connected with the opposite side walls and foldableinto superimposed relation with each other, one of said closure sectionshaving a carrying handle struck therefrom and providing a slot in saidsection, the other of said closure sections having spaced interlockingtongues on its free longitudinal edge each provided with relativelyfoldable portions to be inserted through the ends of said slot closelyadjacent to the handle ends, one portion of each tongue having resilientbearing engagement against the underside of the first named closuresection and constituting an inclined strut 00: operating with the otherportion of the tongue to resist outward movement of said tongues throughthe slot and thereby retain said closure sections in superimposedrelation.

4. A container constructed of sheet material including a body, opposingclosure sections for one side of said body hingedlyconnected therewithand foldable into superimposed relation with each other, one of saidclosure sections having a carrying handle struck therefrom and providinga slot in said section, and the other of said closure sections beingprovided along its free longitudinal edge with spaced bendable partsinsertable through the endsof said slot closely adjacent to the handleends and cooperating with said first named section to retain the closuresections in superimposed relation.

5. A container constructed of sheet material including a body, opposingclosure sections for one side of said body hingedly connected therewithand foldable into superimposed relation with each other, one of saidclosure sections having a carrying handle struck therefrom and providinga slot in said section, and the other of said closure sections beingprovided at each of two spaced points along its free longitudinal edgewith relatively bendable angularly related parts, both insertablethrough one end of said slot closely ,adjacent to the handle end andeach cooperating with said first'named section to retain the closuresections in superimposed relation.

In testimony thatI claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed myname hereto.

NATHAN OTTINGER.

